Wildlife News - April 24, 2008

• Arizona Game and Fish Commission sets 2009 fall hunts
• It's time for large hold-over trout in the mountain lakes
• Senate confirms appointment of Jack Husted to commission
• Orphaned wildlife not what it seems
• Boaters – Don't move a mussel this season
• Information needed to solve killing of 89 bats near Superstition Mountains
• No CWD found in Arizona deer and elk testing
• Successful turtle trapping program gives native turtles at the zoo “moat” a boost
• Tri-Boating Safety Fair kicks off National Safe Boating Week
• Outdoor learning flourishes during youth turkey camps in the mountains
• Stay updated on legislative issues
• Headquarters facility wins award for energy efficiency, environmental design
• Arizona's young shotgun shooters continue to rise in clay target competitions

Arizona Game and Fish Commission sets 2009 fall hunts

Enhances first-come, first-serve system for leftover permit-tags

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission approved the remaining big game fall hunting seasons for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, buffalo, bear and mountain lion at its April 18 meeting in Phoenix.

The application deadline to apply for a hunt permit-tag is Tuesday, June 9 by 7 p.m. (MST), Postmarks do not count, and there is no online process available. You can start applying once the regulations are posted on the department's Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

Draw application instructions, season dates, permit numbers, hunt numbers and other draw related information will be published in the 2009-2010 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet that should be available for download at www.azgfd.gov/draw the last week in April. Printed copies of the booklet should be available at all Department offices and license dealers statewide no later than the second full week in May. To apply for a 2009-10 fall hunt permit-tag, paper applications must be used - no online application service is available.

Applicants should note, there is a new P.O. Box for submitting hunt permit applications and the new address should be reflected on the new envelopes. The new address is Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Drawing Section, PO Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052. However, applications mailed to the old address will be automatically forwarded to the new address.

Another date to remember is – May 28 – which is the end of the application grace period. During the grace period, if you apply for one of the remaining fall hunts and make a mistake on the application, the department will attempt to call you three times in a 24-hour period and allow you the opportunity to correct the mistake. After that date, mistakes can cause your application to be rejected.

New for this season is a dual method and schedule for applying for leftover tags on a first-come, first serve basis. In an effort to streamline the process and reduce the waiting time, hunters will have the option to buy a leftover permit-tag at department offices - after a by-mail-only grace period.

“The mail-only process didn't allow hunters to take advantage of a last minute openings in their schedule to go hunting, because we couldn't process the paperwork quick enough, said Brain Wakeling chief of game management. “With this improvement, they can go to their local department office, see what hunts are available and buy it right there over-the-counter. This is a huge improvement in removing a barrier to hunter recruitment and retention.”

For first-come, first-serve leftover tags for fall 2009-10 hunts paper applications are accepted by mail only starting Aug. 3 after 8 a.m. Beginning Aug. 10 at 8 a.m. hunt permit-tags can be obtained at any department office or by the mail application process.

Another change worth noting is the deadline to apply for a pheasant permit is now the same as the fall draw deadline of June 9 by 7 p.m. MST. Pheasant hunters are to use the same application materials as the fall big game hunts with the new deadline date.

It's time for large hold-over trout in the mountain lakes

Almost all the mountain lakes are now open and accessible – it's time to grab the poles, some worms, a jar of salmon eggs and just go, said Rory Aikens, the fishing report editor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Aikens added that this is the time of year to catch those larger hold-over trout with crisp, pink flesh. “It's gourmet meal catching time in the cool pines. Don't forget your lemons.”

The paved road into Big Lake and Crescent Lake is now open in the White Mountains, and the road into Woods Canyon Lake opened last week. Earlier this week, the Rim Road (FS 300) opened to Bear Canyon and Knoll Lake.

“It was almost a festival-type atmosphere at Woods Canyon Lake last Saturday, as lots of families had their first mountain fishing adventure of the season, with the lucky ones catching whole stringers of feisty trout,” Aikens said.

The reason to take along salmon eggs, Aikens advised, is because the rainbow trout are full of eggs and should be spawning soon. “Even when you fish with lures, you might want to tip the hooks with a salmon egg or two. Worms and salmon eggs can also work well.”

He added that this is also superb time to treat your kids to a fishing escapade along our mountain streams for early spring trout. Tonto, Christopher, Haigler, the East Verde, Beaver Creek, West Clear Creek, the Verde River and Oak Creek are all fun options.

The road into the East and West Fork of Black River is open from Alpine. “Both of these native Apache trout streams is running a little high right now, so the fishing might not be optimum, but the wildlife watching opportunities are phenomenal. You might even see some Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, elk, deer or wild turkey,” Aikens advised.

The road is open into Willow Springs Lake above the Mogollon Rim, which is another good option. Black Canyon Lake is accessible.

Goldwater Lake near Prescott is a warmer mid-elevation choice. So is Dead Horse Ranch State Park near Cottonwood. The Verde River between Cottonwood and Camp Verde is another option. If you are up that way, visit the Tuzigoot Indian Ruins (you can fish right below the bridge leading to the ruins, it's one of our stocking spots). It creates a well-rounded experience for the kids - not bad for adults as well!

However, the Lower Salt River near Phoenix offers another fun adventure for the family, especially if you don't want to go far.

Saguaro is ‘The Place' to take the kids to catch lots of bluegill (kids use mealworms under a bobber while mom and dad cast small spinners for gills and yellows). Maybe even put some corn on the bottom for gills, cats and carp.

For the warmwater lakes, it is tough to beat Roosevelt Lake. It is tip-top full, with acres and acres of vegetative habitat being immersed for only the second time ever. The productivity of this lake is just beyond compare right now. Anglers in future decades will be referring to the fishing right now as “the good old days.” Don't miss out.

But Alamo, Bartlett and Pleasant are all worth a visit. The fishing is picking up at Havasu, Mead and Mohave. Once the latest fronts blast through the state again, Lake Powell will be worthwhile.

Farther afield, the bass spawn is underway at Lake Powell. “This might be a dream fishing weekend at Powell. In fact, it might have the potential to provide some of the best striper fishing in the West or even the nation,” Aikens said.

For the crappie addicts, the spawn is mostly kaput. With the dark of the moon this weekend, and meteor showers expected, this is a superb time to put out the submersible lights and catch a passel of speckled beauties.

“Go catch some memories. Maybe I'll see you out there,” Aikens said.

 

Senate confirms appointment of Jack Husted to commission

The Arizona State Senateon April 16confirmed the appointment of Jack Husted as the newest member of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

Husted was appointed in early April by Governor Jan Brewer. He replaces Bill McLean, whose term on the commission expired this year.

Husted, from Springerville, has a broad background in both the public and private sectors. He has experience in local government and law enforcement, having served as a deputy county sheriff in Pima County, as a reserve game ranger for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and as a town councilman for the Town of Eagar. Beyond his public service, he is a successful small business owner.

Husted has a long history of being active in his community. He has served on several boards, including the Northern Arizona Council of Governments, the Arizona State Transportation Board, and the Springerville-Eagar Chamber. He also offers his time as a deacon/elder of the Community Presbyterian Church in Springerville.

A third-generation Arizonan and lifelong hunter and sportsman, Husted is affiliated with several wildlife organizations. His family also has long-standing ties to ranching in the State of Arizona. He resides in Springerville with his wife and has two grown children.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission makes rules and regulations for managing, conserving, and protecting wildlife and fisheries resources, and safe and regulated watercraft and off-highway vehicle operations for the benefit of the citizens of Arizona.

The commission is composed of five members appointed by the governor pursuant to ARS 38-211. The commission appoints the director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the director serves as secretary to the commission. No more than one commissioner may be from any one county. No more than three may be from the same political party. Each commissioner serves a five-year term, staggered. For more information on the commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

Orphaned wildlife not what it seems

Game and Fish asks public to leave baby wildlife alone

Although you may be tempted to pick up a baby bird or other young wild animal that appears to have been abandoned by its parents, the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds people to avoid the temptation. The situation may just be another case of wildlife taking steps to protect their young.

For wildlife, leaving young behind is generally a protective sleight-of-hand trick by animals as a response to a potential threat. These animals have not been abandoned and should not be whisked away by well-intentioned individuals.

Such an action can have dire consequences for wildlife.

“The intentions are good, but the results are most often a death sentence,” said Erin Riddering, game specialist with the Game and Fish Kingman office. “The first instinct is to lend a helping hand, but people have to fight that urge.”

This is the time of year, when Game and Fish offices see an increase in people bringing in animals, such as baby quail and rabbits. If at an age where they can't survive, these animals are humanely euthanized.

Riddering explained that young wildlife is rarely abandoned. When a perceived threat – such as a human in close proximity – disappears, the parents will return and continue to care for the young. By removing the young, their odds for survival diminish dramatically.

For instance, young quail will follow their mothers soon after hatching, but if the mother is frightened, she will fly away or try to distract the perceived predator by acting injured. When the threat is gone, the mother returns.

“It's also important to remember that quail are a ground-based bird,” Riddering said. “They do not fall from nests.”

Quail, however, are not the only wildlife to be left alone. Pronghorn antelope fawns should be left in the wild. Removal is a liability. And baby rabbits, often thought to be in distress when seen alone, will most certainly die if removed from the wild.

Avian parents will continue to care for a hatchling that has fallen from a nest. However, if the bird is in immediate danger, it is okay to place them back in the nest or in a nearby tree. Contrary to popular belief, human scent will not concern the parents.

“It's nice to have people so concerned about the welfare of wildlife,” Riddering said. “We just ask that people do what is best for the animals, and the best thing is to leave them alone.

There are other methods to help: watch your pets and your vehicle speed. Pet dogs and cats negatively impact wildlife, especially in the spring when young are born and hatched, while vehicles remain the top killer of wildlife in the nation.

“Young animals have plenty to worry about in the wild,” Riddering said. “Toss in domestic animals and the problem is compounded. Many of the young received at the office are the result of an attack by a pet.”

As for human intervention, it's simply best to let nature run its course.

“You wouldn't want someone picking up your child in the front yard and dropping them off at the police station when you simply stepped into the house for a moment,” Riddering said. “There's no reason to remove wildlife, either.”

Boaters – Don't move a mussel this season

The spring boating season is underway and the Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking boaters and anglers to take simple steps to avoid moving destructive quagga mussels and other invasive species from one lake to another.

“Prolific quagga mussels have invaded lakes Pleasant, Havasu, Mead and Mohave. These tiny invaders can easily hitchhike on your boat – 10,000 or more microscopic larvae to fit into a teaspoon of water. So please DON'T Move A Mussel,” said Tom McMahon, invasive species coordinator for the Game and Fish Department.

In fact, these tiny invaders are so prolific that a single adult quagga mussel can produce up to a half-million microscopic larvae in a single year and can eventually carpet vast areas of a lake. So please Drain, Clean and Dry your boat each and every time you visit a lake – any lake.

• Drain the water from the boat, livewell and the lower unit
  
  
  
• Clean the hull and remove all plant and animal material
  
  
  
• Dry the boat and inspect all exposed surfaces

“After you visit a lake or other body of water, wait five days before launching your watercraft someplace else,” McMahon said. “This five-day waiting period will aid tremendously in killing those hidden hitchhikers on your boat, such as the microscopic quagga larvae.”

Even when visiting lakes that are not infected with quagga mussels, these simple steps must to be taken to avoid undesired environmental consequences.

“Quagga mussels can cause extensive problems, but they are not the only aquatic invader out there,” McMahon said. “Be conscientious and do your part – drain, clean and dry your watercraft each and every time you visit a lake. It should be as routine as putting on your safety belt when driving a car or brushing your teeth before bed.”

McMahon also pointed out that quagga mussels can infest boat engines and cause extensive damage, as well as impacting water delivery systems and hydroelectric operations. Invasive mussels have caused billions of dollars in Midwestern waters.

Boaters who take the precautionary steps are the first line of defense against these and other aquatic invaders. Those who don't drain, clean and dry pose a significant environmental threat. Don't be a threat.

Some lakes in California have been closed to boating to prevent quagga invasions and others could be closed. Some waters, such as Lake Powell in Arizona and Utah, require mandatory inspections before you can launch your boat.

“Quagga mussels do pose a serious threat,” McMahon said. “You don't want to be the one responsible for infesting beautiful treasures like Lake Powell or Big Lake. The remedial steps are easy. The consequences of not taking them can be dire.”

Learn more about aquatic invasive species at www.azgfd.gov/mussels.

Information needed to solve killing of 89 bats near Superstition Mountains

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking for the public's help in solving a case involving the unlawful killing of nearly 90 bats in an abandoned mine near the Peralta Trailhead in the Superstition Mountains.

The Mexican free-tail bats were shot and left in the mine to die sometime between April 1-10.

“This is a blatant example of disrespect for wildlife, and the laws that are established to protect the state's wildlife,” says Wildlife Manager, Dana McGehee. “We need help from the public to catch the suspects. If you were in the area recently, please try to recall anything you might have seen or heard, or any conversations you may have had. Someone may not realize he or she has the key to solving this case. Unlawful killing of any wildlife is considered a major loss for the residents of Arizona and our wildlife resources.”

Anyone with information about this killing can call the department's Operation Game Thief hotline toll-free at (800) 352-0700. Callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,500 in this case. All calls may remain confidential upon request.

Arizona is home to 28 bat species, including two species that are nectar-feeders and pollinate plants like the saguaro and agaves. Mexican free-tailed bats are found throughout Arizona in the summer and most migrate south in the winter. They eat many different types of insects, including mosquitoes and many crop pests. The nectar-feeding bats are important pollinators of cacti and agaves. Bats are the only mammal that can truly fly and, contrary to popular myth, bats are not blind.

For more information on bats, visit www.azgfd.gov/bats.

No CWD found in Arizona deer and elk testing

The Arizona Game and Fish Department reports lab tests found no detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in any of the 2,343 testable samples from hunter-harvested or road-killed deer and elk during Arizona's 2008-09 hunting season.

The department has tested approximately 12,500 deer and elk samples since beginning its surveillance program in 1998. None have tested positive for the disease. Although CWD has not yet been found in Arizona, it is present in three neighboring states: Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.

“We nearly doubled our surveillance and collection of samples in areas of concern where neighboring states have detected CWD, which makes announcing another season with no detection in Arizona very encouraging,” said Clint Luedtke, interim wildlife health specialist for the department. “However, we are going to continue to focus heavily in areas that border Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico during the 2009-10 season.”

Another improvement to the surveillance effort this year includes a professional cooperation with the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife. The samples they collected were also included for testing. All of those samples came back negative.

As in past hunting seasons, Game and Fish will be asking for hunters' assistance this season in submitting deer or elk heads for free CWD testing. Heads can be brought to any Game and Fish Department office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Luedtke added, "Arizona's hunters, meat processors and taxidermists continue to play a crucial role in our surveillance program, and we cannot thank them enough in assisting this effort.”

Hunters who are successful in Game Management Units 12B and 27 are especially encouraged to submit heads for sampling because these units border states that have positively detected CWD. Deer and elk from these areas of the state have the greatest potential for initial detection of CWD. Additionally, because the Kaibab check station is only mandatory for Units 12AE and 12AW, it is typically more difficult to obtain samples from Unit 12B.

CWD is a neurodegenerative wildlife disease that is fatal to cervids, which include deer, elk and moose. Clinical symptoms include loss of body weight or emaciation, excessive salivation, increased drinking and urination, stumbling, trembling, and behavioral changes such as listlessness, lowering of the head, and repetitive walking in set patterns.

No evidence has been found to indicate that CWD affects humans, according to both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

CWD was first identified in captive deer in Colorado in 1967 and has since spread to both captive and wild cervids in 15 states and two Canadian provinces. It is a naturally occurring prion disease belonging to a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Other TSEs are bovine spongiform encephalopathy (also called “mad cow disease”) in domestic cattle, and scrapie in domestic sheep and goats.

The department has had rules in place since 2002 banning the importation of cervids designated as restricted live wildlife under commission rule R12-4-406(A)(9)(b), to protect against the introduction of CWD to free-ranging or captive wildlife.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will continue to work in close coordination with other state and federal agencies to monitor for CWD.

For more information on CWD, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Web site at www.azgfd.gov/cwd; the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance Web site at http://www.cwd-info.org/; or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/ (use the search feature for chronic wasting disease).

Successful turtle trapping program gives native turtles at the zoo “moat” a boost

After a three-day management effort to remove non-native turtles from the pond at the entrance of the Phoenix Zoo, native turtles can spread their legs and enjoy less competition for food and habitat.

Every year, it is estimated that hundreds of unwanted pet turtles are released into the Papago Park pond by their owners.

This year, 94 non-native turtles were removed from the pond, with the majority being red-eared sliders. Turtles will be placed with the Phoenix Herpetological Society and made available for adoption to suitable homes with a pond in a fenced yard.

Removing non-native turtles helps prevent them from traveling to nearby waters where they could out-compete, spread disease to or prey on native turtles and other native aquatic wildlife.

The trapping program was a joint effort of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix Herpetological Society, City of Phoenix and more than 160 volunteers.

The first non-native species turtle trapping was held at the zoo in 1999. Since then, more than 600 turtles have been captured and removed. The largest turtle ever trapped was a 31.5 pound common snapping turtle.

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration representative was also on site to provide information on pet turtles and the risk of salmonella infection, especially in young children.

Tri-State Boating Safety Fair kicks off National Safe Boating Week

Officials to emphasize the enjoyment of safe and responsible boating on May 16

“Go Boating Safely!” is the new theme for Colorado River's Tri-State Boating Safety Fair. The event will take place May 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Havasu City's London Bridge Beach Park, along the Bridgewater Channel at 1340 McCulloch Blvd.

This sixth annual fun-filled family affair will kick-off National Safe Boating Week (May 16-22) by a group of state, local and federal boating agencies that want to encourage boaters to hit the water this summer, but safely and responsibly.

Organizers will be talking about challenges that boaters face while boating on the Colorado River and about general boating safety. Families will be given the opportunity to bring in one outgrown or unsafe life jacket to trade in for a brand new one (while supplies last), and boating safety bags filled with promotional items and information about boating laws in strategic areas of the Colorado River will be distributed. Also, boaters will get a free vessel safety check from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary before launching.

The Tri-State Boating Safety Fair is free and the public is encouraged to stay the entire day to picnic, swim, fish and partake in the action. For more information about the boating safety fair, call Arizona Game and Fish Department at (623) 236-7377.

Outdoor learning flourishes during youth turkey camps in the mountains

COLCORD RIDGE, Mogollon Rim – The mountains, mentors, wildlife officers, volunteer instructors, gobblers, guides and even the wind had a lot to teach 180 or so camo-clad youngsters during the opening weekend of the spring turkey season.

With a lot of able assistance from sportsmen's organizations, the Arizona Game and Fish Department conducted two youth turkey hunting camps, one along the Mogollon Rim and the other in the White Mountains. Kids and parents flocked to both.

It was a momentous weekend of learning in the pine-scented woods with shotguns in hand at first light or during the afternoon in-camp workshops while gripping steaming mugs of hot chocolate or frosty cold sodas.

Even though youngsters and turkey hunting have long been mainstays on the hunting learning curve for generations, there is something new this year putting big smiles on the faces of kids and parents – this is first spring hunt ever with over-the-counter youth turkey tags available.

In past years, youth and adults had to enter the big game drawing for the available tags. Now any youth betwee n the age of 10 and 17 can get a turkey tag over-the-counter that is good for both the spring and fall hunts, although only one turkey can be harvested each year by an individual.

One smiling dad, Mark Arnold of Phoenix, said it is tremendous to have over-the-counter tags for kids, especially since they can use the tags again this fall if they don't harvest a bird this spring. “It really gives them something to look forward too even if they don't get one now.”

Arnold and plenty of other dads pointed out that it isn't always about harvesting a turkey, but learning and even sharing experiences in the wild with family and friends.

Dylan Stewart, age 15, from Yuma said it was pretty exciting when a bearded gobbler came running up at full speed as they were setting up their decoy. “It took one look at us and took off flying. That was our only chance that day.”

Not getting that gobbler didn't affect the excitement in his voice or the gleam in his eyes while relating the tale of the one that flew away.

For twenty-year-old Jason Arnold, it was an opportunity to put his turkey-calling skills to use to try and call in a gobbler for his younger brother. For the Arnolds, and most others as well, hunting is a cooperative family endeavor. But youth hunts are even more special – it's family mentoring time.

Plenty of other youngsters had even more to cluck about. With a note of confident pride in his voice, 13-year-old Nick McMullen related the tale of how he harvested his gobbler, which he pointed out was his third one in four years.

“My dad pre-scouted and knew where the roost was, but on opening morning, it was so windy that we couldn't even find them,” Nick said.

But the next day dawned on a near-perfect day in the woods with no wind. “We set up the blind and started calling across the drainage from the roost. We could see one large gobbler strutting around, and finally it flew 300 yards across the drainage straight to us in just a few seconds. I shot it seven yards away,” Nick said excitedly.

Nick quickly added that the gobbler had a seven-inch beard.

What a tale. By the way, Nick is the son of Wildlife Manager Craig McMullen, who helped coordinate the youth camp on the Rim. “Every kid seemed to have an exciting tale to tell. This is what it's all about, why we do what we do,” the veteran wildlife officer said.

Michael Godwin, the Game and Fish wildlife manager supervisor who helped organize the youth camp for Game Management Units 1 and 27, said it was a huge success. “Every kid and parent I talked to had great things to say about the camp and all of the people that were there to help.”

Godwin added that all the parents were very complimentary of the Game and Fish Department establishing over-the-counter junior turkey tags.

Sitting side by side in a turkey blind is a perfect mentoring situation for youngsters.

Both Godwin and McMullen pointed out that lots of organizations stepped forward to help with the camps, and for working with the parents and kids in the field as well.

Groups involved included the Arizona Deer Association, the Arizona Elk Society, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Chandler Rod and Gun Club, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and Outdoor Experience 4 All.

The universal opinion of everyone involved from kids and dads to wildlife managers and sportsmen was – “Let's do this again!”

Stay updated on legislative issues

Are you interested in staying informed about proposed state and federal legislation affecting wildlife, hunting, fishing, shooting sports, off-highway vehicle recreation, boating recreation, or the activities of the Arizona Game and Fish Department?

If so, you can find legislative updates on the department's Web site at www.azgfd.gov/legislation.

There are links to a weekly update on Arizona legislation (while the state legislature is in session) and to a monthly update on congressional legislation and national news.

Headquarters facility wins award for energy efficiency, environmental design

The Arizona Game and Fish Department's headquarters facility has been recognized as the “LEED-certified Building of the Year” by the Arizona chapter of NAIOP, the commercial real estate development association.

The 117,452-square-foot, three-building campus, which the department has occupied since November 2007, was recognized for meeting LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards for the design, construction and operation of high-performance “green” buildings.

The building employs design features and technology that reduce the need for artificial light and heat, cut exterior water usage through natural landscaping, and scale back interior water usage via low-use plumbing fixtures.

Other environmentally friendly features include the use of regionally harvested materials as well as wood harvested from managed forests. A green cleaning program also helps ensure the building has a reduced impact on the environment.

The department is planning on implementing a rooftop photovoltaic system that will take advantage of solar energy and potentially provide 10 percent (in the first phase) and up to 17 percent (by the second phase) of the facility's electricity needs.

The headquarters facility project is designed to meet LEED gold certification standards, with a pending submittal for platinum certification when the photovoltaic system is in place.

Partners in the project included Lincoln Property Co. (developer), Will Architects (architect/designer), Sundt Construction Inc. (general contractor), and Green Ideas (LEED consultant).

Arizona's young shotgun shooters continue to rise in clay target competitions

Many teams qualify to compete in the national competition in July

Intense wind, pouring rain, hail, a touch of sun and a perfect 100 score in skeet from intermediate shooter Tanner Bissell of the Ben Avery Clay Crushers, were some of the highlights from this year's SCTP Commissioners' Cup championships.

Another success story was the top score in the trap competition by varsity shooter Garret Cobbs of the Red Mountain Target Terminators, with 199 hits out of 200 targets. Clearly, Arizona's Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) continues to foster incredible talents from young shooters from across the state.

“These atheletes and this program continue to set a higher bar each year, “said Ashley Lynch, shooting sports coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “I'm completely amazed by the perfect score – that's a first since we started the program.”

A trio of competitions was hosted for each clay target shooting discipline this spring – sporting clays, skeet and trap. Competitions began March 28 with the sporting clays event hosted in Phoenix at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center. The competition was held during the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Outdoor Expo and drew more than 150 athletes. The skeet competition took place April 11 at the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club and drew more than 130 athletes. The competition finished up with trap on April 18 at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center, with over 155 athletes in attendance.

Each discipline is broken into five divisions: varsity, grades 9-12; junior varsity, grades 9-12; intermediate advanced, grades 6-8; intermediate entry, grades 6-8; and rookie, grades 5 and under.

Top results for all three events are:

Sporting clays:

• Varsity: Red Mountain Target Terminators, scored 238, by Chris Van Sickle, Kyle Sutter, and Quinton Moore.
• Junior varsity: Red Mountain Target Terminators, scored 210, by Kent Thomas, Fuller Stephen, and Eric Fleming.
•  Intermediate advanced: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 225, by Holden Huff, Perry Miller, and Tanner Bissell.
•  Intermediate: White Mountain Clay Busters, scored 168, by Roman Ashcraft, Austin Moore, and Logan Barton.
•  Rookie: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 175, by Casey Coleman, Tim Lehmann, and Tyler Sims.

Skeet:

• Varsity: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 282, by Shelby Shank, Kyle Johnson, and Lane Shank.
• Junior varsity: Red Mountain Target Terminators, scored 264, by Kent Thomas Kent, Stephen Fuller, and Eric Fleming.
• Intermediate advanced: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 288, by Tanner Bissell, Holden Huff, and Perry Miller.
• Intermediate: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 229, by Mitchell Jones, Cody Kime, and Zachery Clark.
•  Rookie: Phantom Sure Shot, scored 216, by Hayden Hilderbrand, Nathan Moss, and Jacob Rayner.

Trap:

• Varsity: Red Mountain Target Terminators, scored 948, by Garret Cobbs, Justin Williams, Zachary Kelly, Kyle Hagberg, and Kyle Wandelear.
• Junior varsity: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 875, by Andrew Witte, John Heim, Andrew Tougas, Michael Brooks, and Brandon Medina.
• Intermediate advanced: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 879, by Holden Huff, Paysen Unger, Perry Miller, Trent Jordan, and McCally Gibson.
• Intermediate: Mohave Top Guns, scored 773, by Colorado Parr, Christopher Franklin, Forrest Keller, Kirsten Shaw, and Benjamin Smith.
• Rookie: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 370, by Tyler Sims, Casey Coleman, Tim Lehmann, Brett Miller, and Garrett Rand.

For a complete list of all the results, visit www.azgfd.gov/sctp and click on the link for the Commissioners' Cup results.

In addition to the awards and titles received from the Commissioners' Cup, top performing teams qualify to represent Arizona at the 2009 SCTP National Championships held at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois from July 23-26.

Arizona's SCTP continues to grow each year. There are now 17 clubs across the state dedicated to teaching boys and girls about character development, sportsmanship, responsibility, commitment, and a passion for shooting sports.

Lynch added, “I have to thank all the clubs, parents, kids and volunteers for all their dedication and hard work – without them, the program would never be this successful.”

The clubs in alphabetical order are: Arizona Dust Devils (southeast Phoenix area), Buckeye Buckshots (Buckeye area), Ben Avery Clay Crushers (Phoenix area), Central Arizona Target Shooters (Casa Grande area), Cottonwood / Verde Valley Sportsmen's Club (Cottonwood area), Huachuca Hot Shots (Sierra Vista), Leading Edge Shooters (St. Johns area), Prescott Trap and Skeet (Prescott area), Phantom Sure Shots (west Phoenix area), Red Mountain Target Terminators (East Valley), Mohave Top Guns (Kingman area), Tucson Shooting Stars (Tucson area), Williams Busters (Williams / Flagstaff area), White Mountain Rod and Gun (Springerville / Round Valley area), Wickenburg Sportsmen's Club (Wickenburg area), White Mountain Clay Busters (Show Low / White Mountain area), and the Yuma Young Guns (Yuma area).

Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) is a youth development program using shooting sports as a learning platform for youths in grades 12 and under. It is considered the Little League of shooting sports. The program instills many life-skills like personal values or character traits for fair play, compassionate understanding, individual responsibility, sportsmanship, self-discipline and personal commitment. SCTP is a national program administered by the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation and facilitated locally by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. To learn more about SCTP, visit www.azgfd.gov/sctp or http://www.sssfonline.org/.